Medically Reviewed By: Dr. Neeraj Goel, MCh (GI Surgery)
Designation: Director – GI Oncology, GI & HPB Surgery, Dharamshila Narayana Super Speciality Hospital, New Delhi
Review Date: August 28, 2026
Advanced Colon Polyp Removal, Colonoscopy, Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (EMR), Robotic Colon Surgery, and Colorectal Cancer Prevention in Delhi.
Dr. Goel is a highly respected gastrointestinal surgeon. He has years of experience handling advanced colorectal procedures, robotic surgeries, and cancer prevention. You will find his name on published medical papers and major surgical society rosters. He is a recognized leader in GI oncology and minimally invasive surgery throughout India.
Colonic polyps are basically small bumps. They grow on the inner lining of your colon or rectum. Usually, these little growths are completely harmless. You should not ignore them, though. Some types will slowly turn into colorectal cancer if you leave them alone.
The good news is that doctors can usually spot and remove these polyps long before cancer even develops. This is exactly why getting regular screenings, like a colonoscopy, matters so much for your health.
Almost all colorectal cancers start out as simple polyps. It actually takes years for a harmless polyp to transform into cancer. This long timeline gives a massive advantage. There is plenty of time to find the polyps and get rid of them. Taking them out directly reduces your chances of developing colorectal cancer.
Polyps form when the inner cell lining of your colon begins to grow abnormally. This usually happens because of specific changes in their genes.
Factors which can increase your likelihood of getting them:
Most of the time, colon polyps do not cause a single symptom. Doctors usually just stumble across them during a routine screening.
When symptoms actually do show up, you might notice:
A specialist needs to check out any persistent bleeding immediately.
This is how doctors treat most polyps. They take them out during the exact same colonoscopy when they first find them. The medical term for this is a Colonoscopic Polypectomy. It happens without any external cuts on your body. You go home the same day. It directly prevents cancer, the recovery is incredibly fast, and the success rates are stellar. Most polyps simply never require actual surgery.
Some larger or flat polyps need more advanced removal techniques. EMR involves lifting the lesion, taking it out completely, and sending it off to a lab for evaluation. The benefits are huge. It helps you avoid major surgery and preserves the organ.
Doctors can remove certain large polyps and early cancers using highly specialized techniques. This keeps your colon completely intact and keeps you out of the operating room for major surgery.
While scopes handle most polyps, surgery sometimes becomes unavoidable. This happens when:
If you do need surgery, Minimally Invasive and robotic procedures offer massive benefits. The robotic system gives surgeons a crystal-clear view and extreme precision. This protects your healthy surrounding tissue. You get smaller cuts, much less pain after the operation, and a quicker recovery time. It can also mean less blood loss, shorter hospital stays, a faster return to daily life, and better cosmetic results.
If a polyp contains cancer or is unsafe to remove with a scope, doctors might need to remove a portion of the colon. This operation is a Colectomy. The surgeon removes the affected bowel section along with the nearby lymph nodes if needed. Many of these surgeries can now be done robotically.
Yes, they can. Some polyps are much more likely to eventually turn into cancer, especially specific types like adenomas, especially villous type. The risk increases with larger sizes, villous features, high-grade dysplasia, and having multiple polyps. Getting them removed drastically drops your future risk of colorectal cancer.
People who have had polyps in the past usually need regular colonoscopies. You have to keep a close eye out for new ones. The timeline for your next check depends heavily on the number of polyps they found, their size, their lab results, and your family history. Regular surveillance catches new polyps before they turn dangerous.
There is no guaranteed way to stop polyps from forming. But you can lower your risk by changing a few daily habits:
Our GI Surgery team led by Dr. Goel brings specialized colorectal expertise to managing colon polyps, advanced adenomas, early colorectal cancer, and hereditary polyposis syndromes. He offers advanced minimally invasive surgery. His expertise covers robotic colectomy, laparoscopic colon surgery, and complex colorectal operations. His entire approach centers on early detection, organ preservation, cancer prevention, and long-term surveillance.
Think of them as small, abnormal bumps growing on the inner lining of your colon or rectum. Most of them are totally harmless. But some can slowly turn into colorectal cancer if you leave them alone for too long.
Not at all. When doctors first find them, most polyps are completely benign. However, certain types have a much higher chance of turning into cancer later on. That is why doctors go ahead and remove them.
Honestly, you probably will not feel a thing. Most polyps cause absolutely zero symptoms. Occasionally, they might cause some rectal bleeding, blood or mucus in your stool, anemia, or noticeable changes in how often you use the bathroom.
A colonoscopy is the absolute best tool we have. It lets your doctor find the polyps and actually remove them during the exact same procedure.
Yes, doctors generally remove most polyps they find. They need to send them to a lab for testing. Getting them out is the best way to prevent colorectal cancer from starting.
This is just the medical term for removing a polyp while you are getting a colonoscopy. The doctor takes it out right then and there, without needing any cuts or actual surgery.
Yes, they can. Certain types, like adenomas and serrated polyps, can gradually transform into colorectal cancer if no one removes them.
It stands for Endoscopic Mucosal Resection. It is just an advanced technique doctors use to lift and safely remove larger or flat polyps before they turn into cancer.
Sometimes, yes. You might need surgery if the polyp is massive, already contains cancer, or simply cannot be safely removed with a scope. Doctors also use surgery for patients with inherited polyposis syndromes.
It is a minimally invasive approach. Surgeons use precise robotic tools to safely remove diseased parts of the colon through tiny cuts. It helps you heal much faster than traditional open surgery.
The ones your doctor removes are gone for good, but brand-new polyps can definitely grow in the future. This is exactly why you need to go back for follow-up colonoscopies.
There is no single answer for everyone. It depends entirely on how many polyps you had, their size, and their lab results. Your specialist will figure out a schedule made specifically for you.
Almost never. Most do not cause any pain at all. People usually only find out they have them because they went in for a routine screening.
Absolutely. Eating a healthy, high-fiber diet and getting regular exercise helps a lot. Stopping smoking, keeping your weight in check, and drinking less alcohol can also significantly lower your risk.
Do not wait if you see blood in your stool or experience rectal bleeding. You should also book a visit if a stool screening comes back positive, if colon cancer runs in your family, or if a previous test showed a large or complex polyp.
